Buffer structure of treadmill

ABSTRACT

A buffer structure of a treadmill includes a load board, two side rods and two tooth racks. The two side rods includes a pair of hand wheels and a pair of gear wheels which are respectively located central sections of the two side rods and connected by a link rod, and a pair of fixing rods disposed under the link rod. The two tooth racks includes toothed portions at upper ends thereof to mesh with the gear wheels, fixing posts at inner sides thereof for insertion of the hollow cylinders, fixing bolts screwed to the fixing posts, and two slots at two sides of the fixing bolts. The two slide bolts are inserted through two through holes of the two side rods and the two slots and connected with nuts and washers. A gap is formed between the tooth racks and the side rods for slide.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a buffer structure of a treadmill.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1-A, Taiwanese Utility Model Patent No. M388948 discloses a conventional treadmill having a buffer mechanism. The treadmill comprises a load board 5 and two opposing supports 6. The buffer mechanism comprises buffer units 51 and a shaft 62. The buffer units 51 are disposed on the load board 5. The shaft 62 is connected between guide holds 61 of the two supports 6. The load boards 5 lean against the shaft 62 through the buffer units 51 to be suspended on the two supports 6. The buffer units 51 comprise a plurality of buffer members 511 which have different coefficients of elasticity. The shaft 62 can be rotated on the two supports 6 and moved relative to the buffer members 511 to lean against one of the buffer members 511.

Two ends of the shaft 62 are provided with shaft sleeves 621 and gear wheels 622 and connected to rotation members 623. The shaft sleeves 621 and the gear wheels 622 correspond to the buffer units 51 and tooth racks 52 at the inner sides of the two supports 6, respectively. One end of the shaft 62 penetrates a guide slot 521 of the corresponding guide hole 61. The gear wheels 622 meshes with toothed portions 522. The shaft sleeves 621 are against the buffer members 511, such that the load board 5 leans against the shaft sleeves 621 through the buffer units 51. The conventional treadmill has the following drawbacks.

1. The buffer members of the buffer units are directly pressed on the shaft sleeves and then indirectly on the shaft. The shaft cannot be rotated for adjustment when in use. The user must be away from the treadmill for adjustment, and then run on the treadmill to test the adjustment repeatedly. The operation is troublesome and takes a lot of time.

2. When the shaft is rotated, the two ends of the shaft are inserted into the guide holes of the two supports and cooperate with the gear wheels to slide on the tooth racks. There is no sleeve on the shaft. By the gear wheels to bring the tooth racks, the slide is not smooth because of friction.

Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a buffer structure of a treadmill. The buffer structure comprises a load board, two side rods and two tooth racks. The load board comprises a pair of buffer units under two sides thereof. The buffer units comprise a plurality of buffer members to lean against upper ends of hollow cylinders of the tooth racks. The two side rods comprise a pair of hand wheels and a pair of gear wheels which are respectively located at outer and inner sides of central sections of the two side rods, a link rod connecting the hand wheels and the gear wheels, and a pair of fixing rods disposed under the link rod. The fixing rods each have two through holes. The two tooth racks comprise toothed portions at upper ends thereof to mesh with the gear wheels, fixing posts at inner sides thereof for insertion of the hollow cylinders, fixing bolts screwed to the fixing posts, and two slots at two sides of the fixing bolts. The two slide bolts are inserted through the two through holes of the two side rods and the two slots and connected with nuts and washers. A gap is formed between the tooth racks and the side rods for slide. When the user wants to adjust the buffer degree, he/she can still stand on the load board and turn either of the hand wheels by himself or another person. The link rod and the two gear wheels are driven together to mesh with the two tooth portions so that the two tooth racks are slid through the two slots. Through the sleeves on the slide bolts, the tooth racks can be slid smoothly. After adjustment, the hollow cylinders are moved to be under the desired buffer members. The user can direct test the buffer degree until it is suitable. The user can stand on the treadmill to adjust the buffer degree. The present invention is simple for adjustment and convenient for use.

Alternatively, the link rod is connected between the two fixing posts. The link rod has threaded sections at two ends thereof for connection of the two fixing posts and stop walls to confine rotation of the hollow cylinders. When the user wants to adjust the buffer degree, he/she can turn either of the hand wheels. The corresponding gear wheel is driven to mesh with the toothed portion so that the tooth rack is slid through the two slots. The tooth rack at the other side is synchronously slid by the link rod. Through the sleeves on the slide bolts, the tooth racks can be slid smoothly.

Preferably, a motor is provided at one end of the buffer unit under either side of the load board close to the gear wheel of the corresponding side rod. The motor comprises a transmission gear wheel to mesh with the gear wheels. When the motor is driven, the transmission gear wheel will mesh with the gear wheel at one side to move the tooth rack. Through the link rod, the gear wheels and the tooth racks are linked to activate for adjusting the two hollow cylinders to be under the desired buffer members, providing an electric adjustment and control.

Both sides of the treadmill have the hand wheels for directional option when the treadmill is against the wall. The user can stand on the treadmill to adjust the buffer degree. The present invention is simple for adjustment and lowers the limitation in arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional treadmill;

FIG. 1-A is a partial exploded view of the conventional treadmill;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3-A is a perspective view showing the link rod according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing slide of the tooth rack according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial exploded view according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a bottom view according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2 through FIG. 5, the present invention comprises a load board 1, two side rods 2, 2′, and two tooth racks 3, 3′.

The load board 1 comprises a pair of buffer units 11, 11′ under two sides thereof. The buffer units 11, 11′ comprise a plurality of buffer members 111, 111′ which have different coefficients of elasticity and lean against upper ends of hollow cylinders 33, 33′ of the tooth racks 3, 3′.

The two side rods 2, 2′ comprise a pair of hand wheels 21, 21′ and a pair of gear wheels 22, 22′ which are respectively located at outer and inner sides of central sections of the two side rods 2, 2′ for manual control of the tooth racks 3, 3′. A link rod 23 is used to connect the hand wheels 21, 21′ and the gear wheels 22, 22′ for synchronous adjustment. A pair of fixing rods 24, 24′ is provided under the link rod 23. The fixing rods 24, 24′ each have two through holes 241, 241′ for insertion of slide bolts 35, 35′.

The two tooth racks 3, 3′ comprise toothed portions 31, 31′ at upper ends thereof to mesh with the gear wheels 22, 22′ of the two side rods 2, 2′, fixing posts 32, 32′ at inner sides thereof for insertion of the hollow cylinders 33, 33′, fixing bolts 321, 321′ screwed to the fixing posts 32, 32′, and two slots 34, 34′ at two sides of the fixing bolts 32, 32′. The two slide bolts 35, 35′ are inserted through the two through holes 241, 241′ of the two side rods 2, 2′ and the two slots 34, 34′ and then connected with nuts 351, 351′ and washers 352, 352′, such that a gap for slide is formed between the tooth racks 3, 3′ and the side rods 2, 2′. The tooth racks 3, 3′ can slide along the side rods 2, 2′. The slide bolts 35, 35′ are provided with sleeves 353, 353′ to slide in the slots 34, 34′ with ease. Thus, the present invention can be easily adjusted when in use.

FIG. 2 through FIG. 5 and FIG. 3-A show a first embodiment of the present invention. The link rod 23 to connect the hand wheels 21, 21′ and the gear wheels 22, 22′ penetrates the central sections of the two side rods 2, 2′. The two tooth racks 3, 3′ are coupled to the inner sides of the fixing rods 24, 24′ through the slide bolts 35, 35′, with the toothed portions 31, 31′ to mesh with the gear wheel 22, 22′. The buffer members 111, 111′ lean against the upper ends of the hollow cylinders 34, 34′. When the user wants to adjust the buffer degree, he/she can still stand on the load board 1 and turn either of the hand wheels 21, 21′ by himself or another person. The link rod 23 and the two gear wheels 22, 22′ are driven together to mesh with the two tooth portions 31, 31 so that the two tooth racks 3, 3 are slid through the two slots 34, 34′. Through the sleeves 353, 353′ on the slide bolts 35, 35′, the tooth racks 3, 3′ can be slid smoothly. After adjustment, the hollow cylinders 34, 34′ are moved to be under the desired buffer members 111, 111′. The user can direct test the buffer degree until it is suitable. Both sides of the treadmill have the hand wheels 21, 21′ for directional option when the treadmill is against the wall. The user can stand on the treadmill to adjust the buffer degree. The present invention is simple for adjustment and convenient for use.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention. A link rod 36 to connect the hand wheels 21, 21′ and the gear wheels 22, 22′ is provided between the two fixing posts 32, 32′. The link rod 36 has threaded sections 361, 361′ at two ends thereof for connection of the two fixing posts 32, 32′ and stop walls 362, 362′ to confine rotation of the hollow cylinders 33, 33′. When the user wants to adjust the buffer degree, he/she can still stand on the load board 1 and turn either of the hand wheels 21, 21′ by himself or another person. The corresponding gear wheel 22 is driven to mesh with the toothed portion 31 so that the tooth rack 3 is slid through the two slots 34, 34′. The tooth rack 3′ at the other side is synchronously slid by the link rod 36. Through the sleeves 353, 353′ on the slide bolts 35, 35′, the tooth racks 3, 3′ can be slid smoothly. After adjustment, the hollow cylinders 33, 33′ are moved to be under the desired buffer members 111, 111′. The user can direct test the buffer degree until it is suitable. The second embodiment has the same effect as the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show a third embodiment of the present invention. The present invention further comprises a motor 4 located at one end of the buffer unit 11, 11′ under either side of the load board 1 close to the gear wheel 22, 22′ of the corresponding side rod 2, 2′. The motor 4 comprises a transmission gear wheel 41 to mesh with the gear wheels 22, 22′. When the motor 4 is driven, the transmission gear wheel 41 will mesh with the gear wheel 22 at one side to move the tooth rack 3. Through the link rods 23, 36, the gear wheel 22′ and the tooth rack 3′ are linked to activate for adjusting the two hollow cylinders 33, 33′ to be under the desired buffer members 111, 111′, providing an electric adjustment and control.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A buffer structure of a treadmill, comprising a load board, two side rods and two tooth racks; the load board comprising a pair of buffer units under two sides thereof, the buffer units comprising a plurality of buffer members to lean against upper ends of hollow cylinders of the tooth racks; the two side rods comprising a pair of hand wheels and a pair of gear wheels which are respectively located at outer and inner sides of central sections of the two side rods, a link rod connecting the hand wheels and the gear wheels and a pair of fixing rods disposed under the link rod, the fixing rods each having two through holes; the two tooth racks comprising toothed portions at upper ends thereof to mesh with the gear wheels, fixing posts at inner sides thereof for insertion of the hollow cylinders, fixing bolts screwed to the fixing posts, and two slots at two sides of the fixing bolts, the two slide bolts being inserted through the two through holes of the two side rods and the two slots and connected with nuts and washers, a gap being formed between the tooth racks and the side rods for slide; thereby, by turning either of the hand wheels, the link rod and the two gear wheels being driven to mesh with the two tooth portions so that the two tooth racks being slid through the two slots, the hollow cylinders being moved to be under the desired buffer members.
 2. The buffer structure of a treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the link rod is connected between the two fixing posts, the link rod having threaded sections at two ends thereof for connection of the two fixing posts and stop walls to confine rotation of the hollow cylinders.
 3. The buffer structure of a treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein a motor is provided at one end of the buffer unit under either side of the load board close to the gear wheel of the corresponding side rod, the motor comprising a transmission gear wheel to mesh with the corresponding gear wheel.
 4. The buffer structure of a treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide bolts are provided with sleeves to slide in the slots with ease. 